Christmas Vacation

Did you miss me?!?!  I hope it wasn't too hard on you having me gone for a couple of weeks... boy oh boy, have I been having a good time.  I am not really one for New Year's resolutions, but there is one thing I want to do better at this year and that is remembering to take photos of my family and our wonderful life.  I was not so good at that this past year!!  As I looked to collect photos for this post I realized just how many things I didn't have documented.  And those I do... are mostly taken with my phone (I am not so good with the phone I need manual settings and dials to turn!!)    But regardless, here is a tiny peek into our goings on these past couple of weeks. 

We had PERFECT snowflake picture taking snow, so I tried my hand at it once more...  oh what I wouldn't give for a super fantastic macro lens (hint hint....)

 We had a super fun evening with the Henderson's... Starbucks, then the Broadmoor Hotel to see the gingerbread houses and then dinner at The Airplane Restaurant!

 It was pretty hokey but the kids loved it.

 Christmas baking with the neighbor girls (oh me oh my... I bit off WAY more than I could chew for Christmas Eve!  I baked from 8:00 AM until 5:30 that night... Santa Cookies, Reindeer noses, White Chocolate confetti popcorn, Sweetie Pies, 5 batches of cookie dough, 4 different sugar scrubs, home made crescent rolls,  chocolate covered peanuts, a beef roast, pink fluff, and... roasted potatoes!!

 I was pooped!)

 The girlies and I did some crafting...  Ryanne is sewing and playing on the iPad all at the same time, this girl has got some skills, let me tell you!!

 We played with the lights!! OH and decorated two Christmas trees, our "fresh" tree... croaked 2 weeks in, just wouldn't drink any water!!  I was so paranoid about it going up in flames I wouldn't turn the lights on, so in the end we took it down and put up an artificial one, it looked pretty pathetic so I had to get creative when photographing it.

 Added 3 new members to the family:

Snowball, Mocha and Twix

 Hung out with the Cromwell's and crafted some handmade claymation!!

 Enjoyed a cookie exchange and a neighborhood tour of the lights, hosted by the Connor's!

 Had lunch out at Panda Express and got to see "Wreck-it Ralph" with these 4 crazy girls.

 Went to see Breaking Dawn Part 2 for Lisa's birthday

 Rang in the New Year with friends 

(like our very fancy toasting glasses to go with our very fancy Sparkling cider?!?!?)

 So I forgot to buy the annual Gingerbread house to make on New Year's day with the Kurtz's so Ann and I scrambled and came up with foam houses, this is the garden but the houses were quite cute, Valentine in theme but still cute!  Come on people, work with me here!

 Enjoyed our traditional Monkey Bread on New Year's day. I gotta love how everyone is eating healthy  after the first of the year and the Cooksey's and chowin' on Monkey Bread.  Oh Cija...

 Taught my family how to play Clue... Can you believe it was Rod's very first time?!?  For the record... it was Miss Scarlet in the Living Room with the Wrench!!

And celebrated Rod and my's 20th Wedding Anniversary!!! We obviously went to Gabriel's for dinner, excellent lobster and creme brule' but the rest was pretty average.  We decided we are losing our phoophiness...  would have preferred a steak at Lonestar!!

So I have one more day of vacation (tomorrow) and then it is back to work on Friday.  

I am all booked up for January but I am currently booking for February.  Still have room for up to 4 Boudoir shoots prior to Valentine's day but you must book soon!!!

Sloan and I will be back on Monday with her 1 Year Old sneak peek!!!

XOXO Cija

www.3wishesphotography.com

cija@3wishesphotography.com

Brandon & Rebekah - "I do"

One last "official" post before I am officially on Christmas Vacation!!  Yesterday afternoon, I was in Elizabeth, Co to photograph Brandon and Rebekah's wedding.  

Is that just the cutest little county church you have ever seen???

Brandon and Rebekah helped me prove that the "First Look" is the only way to go!  In fact, I am so sure this is the BEST way to see your future Bride for the first time I am really tempted to only do weddings where the bride and groom will agree to a first look.  They "oooo'd" and "ah'd", hugged and kissed and then... prayed together!  I LOVE THIS!!!

Then it was off to take pictures... while they were fresh and totally relaxed, not worried about their guests waiting on them!! 

 Isn't Rebekah a beautiful bride? I loved her hair and her dress... beautiful!

Brandon told me that they met at church when Rebekah's dad became the Pastor at his church. 

What a GREAT place to meet your "forever".

 The picture below we recreated from a photo taken at Rebekah's parent's wedding.  How fun is that?!?!  I hope I am clever enough to think to do something like this with my girls.

 Ah....  It doesn't matter how old you are, I am sucker for the daddy/daughter photo!

 I wish Brandon and Rebekah a lifetime of happiness!!  XOXO Cija

Oh... and one last HUGE "Thank You" to Denise Blodig, the owner of the Twisted Wardrobe!!  She graciously allowed us to use her fabulous porch for so many of the photos! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!  So be sure to stop by and check out her fabulous shop!  And it is fabulous, there is even a coffee shop attached, what's better than coffee and SHOPPING!!!

The Twisted Wardrobe

239 Main Street

Elizabeth, Co

www.twistedwardrobe.com

Baby Photographer in Castle Rock, CO

 Look at who is turning 9 Months old!!!  It's Emma!!

 She was quite the little model!! and as always a sheer delight to work with!!

These little profiles are my faves of the day!! 

Don't they just make you want to pinch those little cheeks!!!

Unfortunately I had two shoots have to cancel this week because of sickness, so that means an early vacation for me!  I have to admit I am very excited to be taking some undivided time off to spend with my girlies.  The next thing on my agenda is planning our Christmas adventures!!  I may stop in from time to time but no promises.  So just in case... I wish you all a very Merry Christ filled Christmas!!

XOXO Cija

www.3wishesphotography.com

cija@3wishesphotography.com

Family Photographer in Castle Rock, CO

Thursday I felt the sniffles coming on and by Friday morning my head and chest were filling filled foggy yuckiness!!  I spent 2 and a half  days crashed on my couch (don't get me wrong I will take a cold any day over the a stomach flu)!  But... unfortunately Kelly had to wait for her sneak peek until day, sorry Kelly!!!

 I was pretty excited to have my first official shoot with some snow on the ground, although... I was not as excited to do a shoot with snow on the ground in my FLIP FLOPS!! and boy were they slippery!!  I came very close to biffin' it on several occasions!!

Loved the Santa Hats!!!!  So stinkin' cute!

 Now every once in a while I get a crazy hair brained idea to try something crazy and hair brained!

and I did exactly that on this picture!!!  I just thought it would look so cool if it was really snowy...

 It took me hours to do this... someone who really knows what they are doing could have probably done it MUCH faster and much better, but I never claimed to be be photo shop expert...  

I still think it's pretty fun!!!

Until next time! XOXO Cija

www.cija@3wishesphotography.com

cija@3wishesphotography.com

Jesus is our only - HOPE

My heart is heavy tonight as yet another tragic shooting has ripped through the tattered fabric of our Nation.  I am praying for the many lives affected by this senseless act of evil violence.

May the Lord's message of Hope penetrate the hearts of many and may His plan of forgiveness and redemption take what Satan meant for evil and use it for eternal good.  In the light of so many who lost their lives I pray that many more will find life in Jesus Christ.